Author's note: Once again I apologize for my slowness in writing. Thankyou Morhotar for your insight on this chapter. And I hope you all enjoy it.

Silence and Surprises

Cor got up as soon the first golden sliver of the sun rose over the hill pouring sunlight in through all the gaps in the tent. The nagging throbbing in his knee was much harder to ignore while trying to fall asleep than while being wide awake and distracted by conversation. So he was glad to get up rather than continue to drift back and forth between pain and horrid dreams.

The whole camp was astir shortly after he was. Pans rattled and bacon sizzled, but they were a more sombre group than last night and went about making breakfast and packing things up efficiently. Vhor called Cor over to a rocky outcrop at the peak of the hill where he was standing. Cor climbed up carefully, favouring his injured knee.

“Are you well this morning my prince?” He asked.

“Yes thank you, Vhor.” Cor replied. “What are you looking at?”

“There” He said pointing “That is Fallamore.” Cor Looked. There was a splendid view from where they stood. The newly risen sun at their backs cast a golden sheen on the landscape before them. Mist lay in the shallow places of the land which was thick with trees except for a narrow, pale strip of road. The road wound through the woods until it came to the end of the forest and there was Fallamore. It was a small village but neatly built. The centerpiece of it was a large windmill. Cor could see the blades glint in the sunlight as they silently went around over and over again. No other movement could be detected in the village.

“Where about were you and your brother ambushed?” Vhor asked. Cor’s brow furrowed as his eyes scanned the road.

“The second bend from the village” he answered after a moment. Vhor nodded in silence as his eyes roamed the distance. Cor imagined that a dozen plans and strategies were running through the hunter’s mind.

“They are trying to keep people out of Fallamore.” He said suddenly. “They may be blocking other routes in as well but we would still be better not to go on the main road.”

“What other ways are there?” Cor Asked

“There is a forest path that enters the village from the north. Even if it comes to a fight it will be a more favourable battle ground for us than the main road.” Cor nodded

“How did you come to know this land so well?” Cor asked.

“My little brother Vhorin moved up this way to be near his wife's family so I've hunted here with him.” Vhor said.

Cor nodded again and Vhor continued. “Once we are in Fallamore we can see if the villagers know what‘s going on then perhaps take the ambushers from a side they aren‘t expecting.”

“It is a good plan.” Cor said giving his approval. “Breakfast looks about ready now so let’s eat then get on with it.” Breakfast was shortly devoured, the fires were doused, the tents were packed up, the horses were saddled and whole camp was heading out in less than an hour after dawn.

It was a fine morning. I would say it was a quiet morning but that would not be entirely accurate. There was a deal of noise going on in the crowded streets of Tashbaan, in the busy harbours of the Islands, the chattering marketplace of Beruna, and elsewhere in the world, but I shall say that it was a quiet path. It was nestled among the hills like a silent instrument in a velvet case, far away from the noise of the world. Hardly a bird even sang and the horses’ hooves made only a muted thudding on the forest’s ferny floor. The forest’s hush seemed to settle on the travellers so that they spoke little and then in only in whisper.

They continued on in this way until they could make out the mill’s slowly turning blades beyond the thinning trees ahead. A sudden noise and movement by the path broke the silence and tranquility. Hands went to hilts but whatever it was scurried away through the underbrush and one or two said “Only a rabbit”. But Cor caught a glimpse of a dark shape bounding through the thick foliage. “Too big to be a rabbit and too fast for a bear” he thought. In the days to come he regretted not making this thought known to his companions.

Very soon they came into the village with a great clattering of hooves on cobblestones. Except for the noise they made themselves the village was just as quiet as the path had been only this was an unnatural silence, certainly not to be expected in Fallamore in the middle of the day. Not a single living person could be seen. Everything was so still.

There was talk in low alarmed tones among the men. Cor looked to Vhor and saw a expression of great concern on his face. Swords were drawn and arrows put on strings. Everyone fell silent as they rode on towards the mill.

As I have said before, it was a large mill for it served not only as a mill but also as the home of the miller and as a sort of town hall. It was made of ancient looking stone and its only windows were on the third floor. A pale face of a child appeared at one of the high windows then turned away. Even this one living face was a great encouragement to the company below.

A few moments later there was the sound of bolts being undone and bars being lifted and the great wooden door opened a crack. A man leaned out and beckoned them closer. “What has happened here friend?’ Vhor asked.

“No time to explain! Hurry in quickly before they get here! There is room for your horses just duck your heads.” He flung the door open and stepped back all the time looking nervously over Vhor’s shoulder. Vhor signalled his companions to do what the man had said. Their entrance was greatly hastened when a black feathered arrow struck the stone above their heads. Shouts and heavy footfalls were heard behind but all entered safely and the door banged shut. They breathed again and gradually became aware of their surroundings as their eyes adjusted to the dim light.

It was a large round room that smelled of flour and from every corner wide eyed faces of the refugees of Fallamore stared at them from the shadows. They sat huddled in blankets and clinging to the things they managed to grab as the fled from their homes.

The hunting group dismounted and their horses were led into a stable that was attached to the mill. It was pretty dark in there because the windows had been boarded up but Cor could make out the vague shapes of some cows, some chickens, goats and a donkey besides other horses. Vhor was greatly relieved to find his brother Vhorin and met him with a strong embrace.

The man who had called them in introduced himself as Ferrin the miller. He explained to Vhor that a horde of bandits had swept upon the village without warning forcing the people to take refuge in the mill while the bandits helped themselves to all they could lay hands on.

“They have us surrounded on all sides.” He continued. “They sometimes keep out of sight and sometime come into view to show us they are still there. One of the scouts must have seen you coming in and they tightened the knot.”

“Do we have any chance of defeating them in battle.” Vhor asked. Ferrin shook his head.

“There are too many of them for us even with your men with us. Knowing that your camp would be in the area we had hoped you would become aware of our circumstances and get help.” Vhor looked away then spoke in a low tone so that Cor could only just hear him.

“But instead I led the king’s sons right into a hopeless trap.”

“You could not have known.” the man said “There is hope yet. We have food including your supplies for quite sometime.” Vhor nodded but was silent and grim.

Cor felt a touch on his shoulder. It was Aravis.

“Come on let’s go upstairs where it‘s brighter.” Cor smiled then noticed that Corin was already with her and for some reason that he found hard to understand he was a little disappointed.

They made their way up the wooden steps weaving in and out of people. Soon they found themselves blinking in the bright sunlight. Several people were looking out of windows but one turned away so Cor took his place.

Silently in the shadows but also in the light their was a great horde of ragged men. Their hair was long and tangled and their clothing thin and dirty but their mail and weapons shone like new in the morning sun. In horrid surprise Cor recognized them as the arms of the king’s army.

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